Therapeutic Riding Association Incorporated of Louisville

Therapeutic Riding Association Incorporated of Louisville (TRAIL) is dedicated to the physical health and mental wellbeing for individuals with disabilities through riding and fostering relationships with horses.  

Located in Simpsonville, Kentucky, our beautiful, private farm offers the perfect venue where trained instructors offer knowledge and expertise in a caring and compassionate atmosphere.

The ability to control a horse as well as one’s own body inspires self-confidence and responsibility. From the beginning, riders learn balance, coordination and self-assurance while receiving therapeutic muscle stimulation. The physical benefits come naturally; riding reaches deep muscles not accessible through conventional physical therapy. Special activities are done on horseback, which compel riders to stretch, reach and bend, developing eye-hand coordination. As a result, confidence is gained by mastering a skill normally performed by able-bodied people.

Other benefits include improved risk-taking abilities, development of patience, emotional control, and self-discipline. Riding is also perceived as an educational and enjoyable experience. Additionally, exercise away from clinics is something to which a true value cannot be assigned. The program not only involves riding, but also includes lessons in caring for, and the welfare of, the horse and its equipment. This develops the students’ sense of responsibility.